If you’re the parent of a school-aged child, you may already have been confronted with the “must have” list of supplies your child will need to survive in the wilds of grade or middle school. While supplies may individually be fairly inexpensive, that list can add up to big bucks, and having multiple kids in school on a budget can be a real challenge. What’s a parent to do?

Fortunately, there are resources out there to make stocking up simpler and cheaper. Here are some places to look for reduced rulers, bargain backpacks and cut-rate colored pencils:

• Coupons are a great way to save money and teach kids to save. CouponMom is a resource for anyone looking to save on school supplies, but you’ll have to register to access the site. (registering is free) If you prefer to shop online, RetailMeNot has online coupon codes to help you keep costs down.
• Check retailers’ websites for special deals. Target and Staples both regularly advertise offers on their websites or on coupon aggregator sites such as FortheMommas.
• Shop at garage sales or thrift stores. Places like Goodwill and Value Village often have new items available for very reasonable prices, plus, of course, gently used items that still have a lot of life left!
• Get a “Bulk Buddy.” Items in bulk can be cheaper on a per-unit basis, but who needs (or has room to store) 50 black markers or 25 rolls of tape? With kids in the same grade, you can buy a lot of the same item and share the cost and the goods. DiscountSchoolSupply is a place to search, and for the brick-and-mortar types, there’s always Costco.
• Swapping unused or lightly used supplies is a great way to save some money and help the environment by “recycling!” SwapMamas is one such online resource. It’s free to join, and no money changes hands—only needed goods.

Extra Credit: want your child’s teacher to love you? Introduce him or her to iLoveSchools.com, an online resource that connects donors with supplies to give (money, materials, time, knowledge) with teachers, schools and school districts who could use them.

Filed under: Money management tips by admin